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G8 countries spearhead the world system of borders; a system which renders many people illegal and which leaves all of us divided. Restrictions on our movement, restrictions on our right to work, restrictions on our right to receive medical treatment or legal aid or any other social benefit are all standard. What's more these restrictions are largely based on the arbitrary notion of nationality and on its ugly twin: race.

The Immigration Act of 1971 gave the UK government the power to lock up "the unwanted" in detention centres. These are for asylum-seekers whose applications are being processed or have already been rejected. Detention centres are used across Europe, including in the G8 countries of France, Italy and Germany.

In the UK opposition to detention centres and poor treatment of asylum seekers has been vigorous. Campaigns in Cambridge, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham and elsewhere have galvanised people into opposing the often brutal treatment of asylum seekers in this country.

Dividing people between countries

The idea that people's movement between countries should be restricted is a new one: Britain's first immigration restrictions were in 1905. Since 1905 the UK's immigration restrictions have become "progressively more vicious". Despite the fact that the UK is a nation sustained by immigrants and their families, government attitudes towards immigration are ever more hostile.

In the US, immigrant communities have come under attack as part of the US "War on Terror". In the aftermath of the 11 September 2001, arabs, muslims and South Asians have suffered massive harassment from the US authorities.

Amongst all of these campaigns it is worth mentioning one in particular: In recent months travellers have been particularly targetted by the nation's media and by many local councils. In the standard racist pattern, they are first stereotyped, then ridiculed and finally become victims of villification and abuse. A Traveller Support Network has been set up to allow people to support travellers in their struggle to maintain their way of life.